Jailed Hacker Develops ATM Security Device

Reuters reports that hacker Valentin Boanta, 33, who's currently serving a five-year prison sentence in Romania for his involvement in an ATM skimming scheme, has developed a device designed to protect ATMs from such attacks (h/t Ars Technica).

"Crime was like a drug for me," Boanta told Reuters' Radu Marinas. "After I was caught, I was happy I escaped from this adrenaline addiction. So that the other part, in which I started to develop security solutions, started to emerge."

Boanta's Secure Revolving System, or SRS, prevents skimming by receiving the bank card sideways, then rotating it within a metal box before inserting it into the ATM.

The device has been patented, and is being manufactured by Romania's MB Telecom.